For a while now, Zadie's been handing us stuff. She picks up a block, say, and hands it to me. She seems to really enjoy this. But now, this week, she's been starting to hand us stuff, then yanking it back and laughing her ass off. I didn't think she'd be able to make jokes so early, but she is!
Other things she's up to (that we didn't include on the video) include making the sign for fan and fish, and she has added the hand component to the sign for dog (she used to just pant, but now she pats her thigh, too).
Now we're going to get ready for a picnic in the park. It's beautiful here today.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Cool stuff Zadie can do at ten months
Excuse the bad camera work and the messy couch. Come on, who could pay attention to that stuff anyway?
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The cutest G.I.
"I have an idea for a picture" said Sweetie. Pretty good, huh? I love her toothy smile.
Man, my feet are KILLING ME today. I bought new shoes via Target.com. When I tried them on, I was like "Okay, they rub a little at the base of my big toe." No biggie, I thought. But it IS a biggie! Before first period was over I had formed and popped a blister and now I have some tissue wedged in my shoe to provide just a little protection. I'm going to have to stretch them out or something before I try to wear them again. They're cute, though...
Man, my feet are KILLING ME today. I bought new shoes via Target.com. When I tried them on, I was like "Okay, they rub a little at the base of my big toe." No biggie, I thought. But it IS a biggie! Before first period was over I had formed and popped a blister and now I have some tissue wedged in my shoe to provide just a little protection. I'm going to have to stretch them out or something before I try to wear them again. They're cute, though...
Sunday, January 25, 2009
She may not be smart, but she's a comic genius.
This morning I was sitting reading the paper when Sweetie called to me from the shower "Your daughter's a dingus!" "What's she doing?" I called back. "Come here," he said.
To give a little background information, Zadie likes to be in the bathroom when we take showers. She sits outside the shower, plays with the curtain, and stares us down. But usually that's all that happens. Sometimes she gets a little wet because she'll pull the curtain aside and some water splashes out.
But when I went into the bathroom this morning, I saw her sitting happily, fully clad in her pajamas, in the corner of the shower stall. Apparently she'd been doing her normal thing when all of a sudden, Sweetie felt a tapping on his leg and there she was. By the time I had run back out to get the camera, it looked like this.
To give a little background information, Zadie likes to be in the bathroom when we take showers. She sits outside the shower, plays with the curtain, and stares us down. But usually that's all that happens. Sometimes she gets a little wet because she'll pull the curtain aside and some water splashes out.
But when I went into the bathroom this morning, I saw her sitting happily, fully clad in her pajamas, in the corner of the shower stall. Apparently she'd been doing her normal thing when all of a sudden, Sweetie felt a tapping on his leg and there she was. By the time I had run back out to get the camera, it looked like this.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Hey, look, it's
Blog for Choice Day. Apparently this year's theme is "What is your top pro-choice hope for President Obama and/or the new Congress?" My hope is that they can overturn theright of conscience rule that Bush implemented as he was leaving office. It's hard enough for women to exercise their freedom of choice already. Don't make it harder.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Peeeek-tures!
I made myself a hat, too.
Our favorite tree on our walk.
Where we go for coffee.
And what we get there.
Dressed like a cool kid.
Enjoying today's sunshine.
Big enough for the baby swings (she was giggling).
Sort of, almost, big enough for the airplane.
Finis.
Our favorite tree on our walk.
Where we go for coffee.
And what we get there.
Dressed like a cool kid.
Enjoying today's sunshine.
Big enough for the baby swings (she was giggling).
Sort of, almost, big enough for the airplane.
Finis.
Monday, January 19, 2009
The weekend
Well, on Sunday morning I decided I was going to the gym, no excuses. I packed my gym bag and a few things for the baby, and went. It was my first time using the gym's child care facility, which I promptly told Mary, the woman who was working there. I made sure she knew that Zadie had never been cared for by someone besides me or a grandparent, so she could page me if she needed me. I put Zadie into an activity chair thing so she wouldn't get trampled by the big kids, found her a ball to hold, and then left. I put my stuff in my locker and went immediately back to see if she was crying. She wasn't, but Mary wasn't in there! It was a new guy! I went back in, explained again that I could be paged if she cried, and then left. I rode the bike for a while, then went back and peeked in the window. She was fine. Mary was back and was talking to her. I went back and rode the bike some more. Then I went back and peeked in the window again. A woman in the hall saw me and reassured me that she'd be fine, that it was a good facility and that Zadie would make "golden friends" there. I did some weights, then got my stuff and came back. Mary told me she'd been "the belle of the ball" and that all the bigger kids were fascinated with her. At that point, about five bigger kids had, in fact, gathered around us. I said "Yes, I looked through the window and I saw you talking to all the big kids." One of the boys, maybe 5 or 6, told me "Yeah, she said 'aaaaaaaah.'" It was a pretty good imitation of Zadie, actually. Anyway, now I feel better and know she'll be fine if I leave her there again. Not if, WHEN I go back to the gym.
That afternoon, Mom and I went out to H&M, and I discovered that I am not H&M size anymore. It's probably hard to understand for someone who hasn't been through the process of deciding to have a breast reduction, but I have some emotional issues around my boobs and breastfeeding. And as much as I love breastfeeding and am not ready to quit, it is really hard to see the buttons on shirts pulling apart in the same way they did before I had my surgery and got a sweet little B plus/C minus. Of course I'm self-conscious about my weight in general, but the boobs are not helping. They're about a triple D right now -- smaller than before the surgery, but bigger than I'd like by a long shot. And that kelly green cardigan cannot be mine. It feels like I can't have nice things because I'm so enormous.
Today we had a nice walk down to Tupelo. I was thinking of taking her by East Portal park, too, to see if she was big enough for the baby swings now, but she fell asleep about a block into our walk.
I took the baby downtown to the mall, since one of the things I really want is a pair of jeans that fit. I bought a pair at Old Navy in the size that fits me in their trousers, but I didn't try them on. I should have. They're much too big and I have to hike them up all the time, plus they sag badly in the ass. So I went to Macy's and grabbed several pairs. The first pair I tried fit great and looked great, and they were on sale! I bought them, then we went and had some lunch. Then it was off to Naked roasters, where it was half-price coffee day. I bought three pounds. Sweetie's been buying the coffee, and he goes to Starbucks. I like some of the coffee, but Naked coffee is my favorite, so I stocked up. Hopefully we won't run out until mid-February, when I'll have a Monday off again!
Then we went to Borders, where I looked for books for Sweetie (didn't find them), then home to try to take a nap. Zadie was more interested in doing nursing gymnastics, so finally I asked Sweetie to take her so I could try to get a nap. Seriously, at one point she was doing downward dog with my nipple in her mouth and her legs straddling my head. I got a foot in the eye. She's wacky.
Then I made shepherd's pie for dinner, and I have since been just playing with the baby, reading, tooling around on the internet, keeping the baby away from the cat, and painting my nails. It's a nice, relaxing day. Thanks, Dr. King.
That afternoon, Mom and I went out to H&M, and I discovered that I am not H&M size anymore. It's probably hard to understand for someone who hasn't been through the process of deciding to have a breast reduction, but I have some emotional issues around my boobs and breastfeeding. And as much as I love breastfeeding and am not ready to quit, it is really hard to see the buttons on shirts pulling apart in the same way they did before I had my surgery and got a sweet little B plus/C minus. Of course I'm self-conscious about my weight in general, but the boobs are not helping. They're about a triple D right now -- smaller than before the surgery, but bigger than I'd like by a long shot. And that kelly green cardigan cannot be mine. It feels like I can't have nice things because I'm so enormous.
Today we had a nice walk down to Tupelo. I was thinking of taking her by East Portal park, too, to see if she was big enough for the baby swings now, but she fell asleep about a block into our walk.
I took the baby downtown to the mall, since one of the things I really want is a pair of jeans that fit. I bought a pair at Old Navy in the size that fits me in their trousers, but I didn't try them on. I should have. They're much too big and I have to hike them up all the time, plus they sag badly in the ass. So I went to Macy's and grabbed several pairs. The first pair I tried fit great and looked great, and they were on sale! I bought them, then we went and had some lunch. Then it was off to Naked roasters, where it was half-price coffee day. I bought three pounds. Sweetie's been buying the coffee, and he goes to Starbucks. I like some of the coffee, but Naked coffee is my favorite, so I stocked up. Hopefully we won't run out until mid-February, when I'll have a Monday off again!
Then we went to Borders, where I looked for books for Sweetie (didn't find them), then home to try to take a nap. Zadie was more interested in doing nursing gymnastics, so finally I asked Sweetie to take her so I could try to get a nap. Seriously, at one point she was doing downward dog with my nipple in her mouth and her legs straddling my head. I got a foot in the eye. She's wacky.
Then I made shepherd's pie for dinner, and I have since been just playing with the baby, reading, tooling around on the internet, keeping the baby away from the cat, and painting my nails. It's a nice, relaxing day. Thanks, Dr. King.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
YUM!
I told Sweetie many weeks ago that what I really wanted for my birthday was a trip to Mustard's for dinner. He's super-rad, so he also spoiled me with books, but we did go for dinner tonight. Monkeygirl and the Manatee picked us up this afternoon and we drove to Napa (actually, it's more like St. Helena, I think) and got there before our reservation time, but they were able to seat us immediately. The service was really good, and the food! Mmh! We started out with their sweet corn tamales with mushrooms, pumpkin seeds, and a cilantro sauce and an order of onion rings. We also all had cocktails -- I ordered a "Dark and Stormy," which was rum, ginger beer, and lime. My entree was a mushroom and spinach burger. It was delicious. Sweetie had duck, Monkeygirl tried lamb, and Manatee tried the "Trucker Deluxe," described as always meat, sometimes potatoes, rarely vegetables.
Dinner was delicious, and we indulged in dessert, too! I was tempted by the chocolate pistachio tart with pistachio ice cream, but I love a good creme brulee, too. Sweetie convinced me to get the brulee, but then ordered the tart for himself and gave me a huge chunk of it! Best of both worlds!
Now the baby is asleep, I'm warm and comfy, and I have two days left in the weekend! Hurrah! My birthday indulgence is now officially over. What a nice way to turn 33.
Dinner was delicious, and we indulged in dessert, too! I was tempted by the chocolate pistachio tart with pistachio ice cream, but I love a good creme brulee, too. Sweetie convinced me to get the brulee, but then ordered the tart for himself and gave me a huge chunk of it! Best of both worlds!
Now the baby is asleep, I'm warm and comfy, and I have two days left in the weekend! Hurrah! My birthday indulgence is now officially over. What a nice way to turn 33.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Stuff and nonsense
Hi all!
I finished administering the big-time scary assessments today. There's just no way to know how they'll go until we get the moderated scores back in July. Now on to the stress of the next assessments in May. Incidentally, because we don't have two rooms so that the students can prepare in one and test in another, I have to just sit outside for fifteen minutes while the kids prepare. So I took a chair and sat in the hall. I think that every single person who walked by in the last two days asked me whether I was in trouble, then chuckled jovially. I smiled and laughed every time. I'm like that.
My birthday week continues! Monkeygirl was nice enough to make me cupcakes and invite me over last night. They were beautiful, by the way, with shiny purple sparkly sugar on top. They were also delicious! She sent me home with some, and I have to practice moderation and not eat them all at once. Tomorrow is, I think, the end of birthday week. We're going to one of my favorite restaurants, Mustard's in Napa, and I'm excited! Oh, soft white corn tamales...
We've been watching Rome, which is a frickin' awesome series. It's so engaging. If you're not ooked out by a little violence, I highly recommend it. We just finished season one and are going to start season two probably on Monday. Yay for days off! (Oh, and Kevin McKidd, who plays Lucius Vorenus, is hot like Daniel Craig, which doesn't hurt.)
I am currently obsessed with peanut butter mochi. A friend in Chicago asked if I'd send her some from a place here in Sac, Osaka-ya. She also told me to pick up some for myself. Well I did, and it's wonderful! It's like the gooey rice dough on the outside of mochi ice cream but with delicious peanut butter inside. It's also in radiation-blue. I went back for more. Here is what it looks like:
I was feeling frumpy and got some birthday money (thanks, Bowsaw!), so I bought several new pairs of shoes and a few items of clothing from Target.com. I'm hoping they all fit, but one never knows. If they don't, I think they have an okay return policy. Here's what I got:
Pink shoes
Pink dress
Purple wedges
Leopard flats
Flowery flats
Greeny dress
Plum sweater dress
Green sweater
New baby info: She now makes a kissy face. Also, she is a mean, mean nipple biter.
I finished administering the big-time scary assessments today. There's just no way to know how they'll go until we get the moderated scores back in July. Now on to the stress of the next assessments in May. Incidentally, because we don't have two rooms so that the students can prepare in one and test in another, I have to just sit outside for fifteen minutes while the kids prepare. So I took a chair and sat in the hall. I think that every single person who walked by in the last two days asked me whether I was in trouble, then chuckled jovially. I smiled and laughed every time. I'm like that.
My birthday week continues! Monkeygirl was nice enough to make me cupcakes and invite me over last night. They were beautiful, by the way, with shiny purple sparkly sugar on top. They were also delicious! She sent me home with some, and I have to practice moderation and not eat them all at once. Tomorrow is, I think, the end of birthday week. We're going to one of my favorite restaurants, Mustard's in Napa, and I'm excited! Oh, soft white corn tamales...
We've been watching Rome, which is a frickin' awesome series. It's so engaging. If you're not ooked out by a little violence, I highly recommend it. We just finished season one and are going to start season two probably on Monday. Yay for days off! (Oh, and Kevin McKidd, who plays Lucius Vorenus, is hot like Daniel Craig, which doesn't hurt.)
I am currently obsessed with peanut butter mochi. A friend in Chicago asked if I'd send her some from a place here in Sac, Osaka-ya. She also told me to pick up some for myself. Well I did, and it's wonderful! It's like the gooey rice dough on the outside of mochi ice cream but with delicious peanut butter inside. It's also in radiation-blue. I went back for more. Here is what it looks like:
I was feeling frumpy and got some birthday money (thanks, Bowsaw!), so I bought several new pairs of shoes and a few items of clothing from Target.com. I'm hoping they all fit, but one never knows. If they don't, I think they have an okay return policy. Here's what I got:
Pink shoes
Pink dress
Purple wedges
Leopard flats
Flowery flats
Greeny dress
Plum sweater dress
Green sweater
New baby info: She now makes a kissy face. Also, she is a mean, mean nipple biter.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
A lovely birthday
Well, my birthday officially started on Sunday with cake and presents at Mom's house. I got several books off my wish list, a Calphalon pot, and a new dress (whoo!). Then later I went to dinner with Mom at the new Haines brothers restaurant, Tre. We had a portobello mushroom, halloumi cheese and chimichurri sauce appetizer, I had a cup of butternut squash soup with chipotle oil, and then a delicious lasanga.
Yesterday we didn't do anything special, but Sweetie insisted on giving me another of my presents.
Today (my actual birthday), I had a special treat: I had a training at school that didn't start until 9:30, so I got to sleep in and Sweetie brought me the baby in bed, where we nursed quietly for a while. Then we had a shower and baklava for breakfast, then finally on to work. We went to lunch and a co-worker bought me lunch for my birthday! I got to come home a little early as well. I had dinner with Dad, also at Tre. (Hey, I wanted to try some other stuff on the menu!) Tonight we tried "asian guacamole" with lotus root chips and red risotto with root vegetables. I also had dessert -- a flourless chocolate cake with raspberry sauce. The sauce was a little sweet, but that was pretty much the only thing I could pick on all night. I may have a new favorite restaurant.
Then I came home and nursed the pumpkin to sleep, and now I'm watching American Idol, which I've decided to stop being embarrassed about. Whatever, I like it.
Before I retire, I'll probably read another short story in one of my new books, Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules. Delightful and relaxing, all told.
Oh, and by the way, I can now officially quote the Pretenders' "Middle of the Road": Don't harass me, can't you tell? I'm going home; I'm tired as hell. I'm not the cat I used to be. I've got a kid, I'm thirty-three baby!!
Yesterday we didn't do anything special, but Sweetie insisted on giving me another of my presents.
Today (my actual birthday), I had a special treat: I had a training at school that didn't start until 9:30, so I got to sleep in and Sweetie brought me the baby in bed, where we nursed quietly for a while. Then we had a shower and baklava for breakfast, then finally on to work. We went to lunch and a co-worker bought me lunch for my birthday! I got to come home a little early as well. I had dinner with Dad, also at Tre. (Hey, I wanted to try some other stuff on the menu!) Tonight we tried "asian guacamole" with lotus root chips and red risotto with root vegetables. I also had dessert -- a flourless chocolate cake with raspberry sauce. The sauce was a little sweet, but that was pretty much the only thing I could pick on all night. I may have a new favorite restaurant.
Then I came home and nursed the pumpkin to sleep, and now I'm watching American Idol, which I've decided to stop being embarrassed about. Whatever, I like it.
Before I retire, I'll probably read another short story in one of my new books, Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules. Delightful and relaxing, all told.
Oh, and by the way, I can now officially quote the Pretenders' "Middle of the Road": Don't harass me, can't you tell? I'm going home; I'm tired as hell. I'm not the cat I used to be. I've got a kid, I'm thirty-three baby!!
Friday, January 09, 2009
Well, that's one stressor down
Poetry Out Loud is over at last. Every year I organize this thing, and every year I panic that it's going to be a tremendous failure. But it was a good year. We had 18 scheduled to perform and about 15 actually perform. In the down time when we were tabulating and such, poetry club members recited poems or read original poetry. The audience was respectful. The performers were uniformly of a high caliber. And a student from my small learning community won! Whee!
Now I have to get the winner ready for the county competition. I have to get parent signature forms, a photo, and some other stuff sent to the county. I hope it can all get done by the deadline, which is about a week away.
My next big stressor is the internal assessments for IB. My honors kids have to record a commentary on a piece of text, and we're spending all day next Thursday and Friday doing it. We've been working very hard and will continue to do so for the beginning of next week, but I'm ready to just be done with it.
Fun stuff is happening, too. I have plans with friends tomorrow, then family birthday plans on Sunday, then birthday dinner plans with my dad on Tuesday, then birthday dinner plans with Sweetie, Monkeygirl, and Monkeyboy (I'll have to work on a better nickname for him) next Saturday. You like how I can stretch out a birthday?
Now I have to get the winner ready for the county competition. I have to get parent signature forms, a photo, and some other stuff sent to the county. I hope it can all get done by the deadline, which is about a week away.
My next big stressor is the internal assessments for IB. My honors kids have to record a commentary on a piece of text, and we're spending all day next Thursday and Friday doing it. We've been working very hard and will continue to do so for the beginning of next week, but I'm ready to just be done with it.
Fun stuff is happening, too. I have plans with friends tomorrow, then family birthday plans on Sunday, then birthday dinner plans with my dad on Tuesday, then birthday dinner plans with Sweetie, Monkeygirl, and Monkeyboy (I'll have to work on a better nickname for him) next Saturday. You like how I can stretch out a birthday?
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Thursday, January 01, 2009
The home surgeon rides again!
For at least two weeks, I have had a yucky lip. I bit it really hard whilst trying to eat a falafel sandwich one night, and instead of just hurting, then going away, it stayed. Inside my lip there was a hard, pea-sized lump. It bugged me ALL the time. It rubbed against my lip. It rubbed against my drinking glasses. It caused the interior of my lip to stay irritated. It showed when I smiled, I think.
After two weeks, I started thinking about contacting my doctor. But then I thought, well, what is she going to do? Either lance it or send me to someone else to lance it. I have sharp things, I thought.
So with the aid of a pin and some squeezing, I no longer have a cyst in my lip! And with the aid of some hydrogen peroxide, hopefully I also won't have an infection. I feel so much better already.
I have in the past removed skin tags, too.
What have you done that you could have left to the doctors?
After two weeks, I started thinking about contacting my doctor. But then I thought, well, what is she going to do? Either lance it or send me to someone else to lance it. I have sharp things, I thought.
So with the aid of a pin and some squeezing, I no longer have a cyst in my lip! And with the aid of some hydrogen peroxide, hopefully I also won't have an infection. I feel so much better already.
I have in the past removed skin tags, too.
What have you done that you could have left to the doctors?
Standing!
She's been standing for brief periods since Christmas Eve, but we haven't been able to catch it on camera until now. But there it is ! So far, she seems to prefer standing on the couch to the floor, but whatever works for her, you know?
She also sometimes stands and bounces for a few seconds. I love the butt bounce.
Okay, off to New Year's Day stuff soon, first to Grandma and Boompah, then to pick up a can of pea soup, then to Granny's. (My aunt isn't up to making pea soup this year, and she always makes some vegetarian for me. Grandma is making it instead, and she only made it with ham, so I have to bring my own if I want to participate in the lucky pea soup eating, which is very important. I always partake of the soup, and I always have a good year.)
I love Freecycle. I put several items that Zadie's outgrown (like the swing, the Boppy, and the vibro-chair) on the site yesterday, and someone will be here in an hour or two to pick them up! I'm trying hard to be unsentimental about these items, and I think I'm doing okay. I really don't think she'll need them anymore -- we haven't used them in over a month. And I still have all her newborn clothes to be sentimental about. My big girl is growing up!
She also sometimes stands and bounces for a few seconds. I love the butt bounce.
Okay, off to New Year's Day stuff soon, first to Grandma and Boompah, then to pick up a can of pea soup, then to Granny's. (My aunt isn't up to making pea soup this year, and she always makes some vegetarian for me. Grandma is making it instead, and she only made it with ham, so I have to bring my own if I want to participate in the lucky pea soup eating, which is very important. I always partake of the soup, and I always have a good year.)
I love Freecycle. I put several items that Zadie's outgrown (like the swing, the Boppy, and the vibro-chair) on the site yesterday, and someone will be here in an hour or two to pick them up! I'm trying hard to be unsentimental about these items, and I think I'm doing okay. I really don't think she'll need them anymore -- we haven't used them in over a month. And I still have all her newborn clothes to be sentimental about. My big girl is growing up!
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